Holder for the staff of flags or the like



June 22,1943. G. H. STAHLER 2,322,600

HOLDER FOR THE STAFF OF A FLAG OR THE LIKE Filed May 15, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Maw /N VENTOR.

Patented June 22, 1943 OFFlCE HOLDER FOR THE s lkFE F FLAGS on THE 1 GeorgeH. Stahler, Cleveland, Ohio Application May 15, 1941, Serial No. 393,591

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an article supporting device and more particularly to a new and improved holder for the staff or pole of a flag and the like. i

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a supporting device for supporting a flag staff in an upright position, which is .relatively light in weight, of sturdy construction, and easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is another object of the invention to provide a supporting device constructed of a single piece of metal including an integrally formed socket type holdenadapted to receive the end of a flag staff and an elongated spike for insertion into the ground.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a supporting device for a flag staff having an integral socket-type holder wherein adjustments of the elements of the holder serve to frictionally secure the staff Within the holder.

The foregoing objects and certain advantageous features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a flag staff holder constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the holder illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a rear view of a modified form of holder constructed in accordance with the invention, and,

Figure 4 is a rear View of still another modified form of the invention.

With reference to the accompanying drawings and particularly to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, the preferred form of flag staff holder embodying the present invention includes an elongated body portion l, constructed of a single piece of relatively thin metal which is symmetrically tapered from the points 2 and 3 indicated on the opposite longitudinal edges thereof to the extremity 4. The tapered end of the body portion forms a spike which is adapted to be easily inserted into the ground to hold the device in the desired upright position. The longitudinal edges of the body portion are reversely bent to form beading or rolled edges 5 and 6 which serve to reinforce or strengthen the body portion.

A socket-type holder for receiving the end of the flag staff is integrally formed with the end of the body portion remote from the spike and includes an end flange l partly circular in contour and extending rearwardly at substantially right angles to the body portion l. Extending through the center of the flange I is an opening 8 having a diameter approximating the diameter of the fiag staff to be supported by the holder. Intermediate the ends of the body portion and struck out and bent rearwardly therefrom are spaced tongues or projections 9 and II contoured similarly to the end flange I and aligned therewith; The projection 9 is provided with an opening l0 therethrough similar to the opening 8.

In using the holder of the present invention the spike is inserted into the ground until it is held in a firm upright position, the projection l l aiding in this respect in addition to limiting the dis tance the device may be inserted into the ground. The flag staff is then inserted downwardly through the opening 8 and I0 until the end thereof rests upon the projection II. To secure the staff within the openings 8 and I0 it is only necessary to bend the projections out of parallel relationship, whereupon the staff will be frictionally gripped between opposite side walls of the openings 8 and I0.

With reference to Figure 3 of the drawings there is illustrated a modified form of the invention which is similar in most. respects to the preferred embodiment differing therefrom in the construction of the socket-type holder. The form of supporting device illustrated in this figure includes an elongated body portion I2 having the lower end thereof tapered from the points I 3 and I4 indicated on the opposite longitudinal edges thereof to the point I5 to form a spike for insertion into the ground. The longitudinal edges l6 and I! are headed or reversely bent to increase the rigidity of the body portion. The integral holder which is adapted to receive the end of the flag staff includes a substantially rectangular projection 20 cut out from the body portion and rearwardly bent, the joint between the projection 26 and the body portion extending substantially transversely of the latter. Between the projection 20 and the upper end of the body portion I2 there are provided similar projections l8 and I 9 which are also rearwardly bent being joined to the body portion with longitudinally extending joints. In using this modified construction the end of the flag staff is adapted to engage or scat upon the projection 20 and the projections l8 and I 9 are bent about the staff to thereby secure the staff to the supporting device.

With reference to Figure 4 there is disclosed a further modified form of the invention comprising the body portion l2 having its lower end tapered from the points 22 and 23 on the longitudinal edges thereof to the vertex 24 to form a spike. A substantially rectangular cut out portion 29 is bent rearwardly at substantially right angles to the body portion to form an abutment which receives the end of the flag staff when supported by the holder. Spaced outwardly extending flanges 21 and 28 formed on the body portion 12 are adapted to be reversely bent to define therewith a socket to receive the flag staff. When a flag staff is seated within the socket the flanges 21 and 28 may be bent about the staff to secure the staff within the holder.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to obtain by Letters Patent is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, an elongated body portion made of a single piec of metal with the longitudinal edges thereofreversely bent to form a reinforcing head therealong and having one end tapered to form a spike for insertion into the ground and the other end provided with a holder integrally formed with said body portion for receiving the end of a flag staff, said holder comprising a plurality of integral projections cut out from. said body portion and extending normally outwardly in parallel relation from the body portion at spaced points therealong, one of said projections serv ing to limit the depth of insertion of the spike into the ground, and the other projections having aligned perforations adapted to receive the end of the staff and maintain it in a substantially upright position, said perforated projections being flexible and capable of relative movement out of parallel relationship whereby the staff may be clamped within the perforations against displacements therefrom.

2. In a device of the class described, an elongated body portion made of a single piece of metal having one end tapered to form a spike for insertion into the ground and the other end provided with a holder for receiving the end of a staff, said holder comprising a plurality of integrally formed projections out out from the body portion and extending outwardly from the body portion at spaced points therealong, one of said projections being joined tothe body portion along a transverse line and serving as an abutment for the end of the staff and the other of said projections being joined to the body portion along a line extending parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof and adapted to be bent around the staif to secure it against said body portion.

GEORGE H. STAHLER. 

